Backhoe attachment decision

[loweryc]

HELLO FROM CANADA:

Just another hobby farmer from ontario looking for some helpful info.I've owned a John deere 4320 now for 4 years (720 hrs) and I am about to purchase a backhoe attachment for it. I've narrowed the search down to either a Wallenstein GX920 or a John Deere 485 but the price difference is around $4000 dollars. Am I missing something here

 

[jeff9366]

In terms of eventual resale, a John Deere Backhoe on a John Deere tractor will allow you to recover much more of your original investment in both tractor and Backhoe.

 

[boggen]

3pt hitch backhoes. it is normally suggested to get a "sub frame" for your tractor to work with the backhoe. if you don't you are more likely to destroy or damage the 3pt hitch.

i am different than jeff9366, once a machine gets some years on it, and hours on it. things tend to go down rather quickly for resale value. i would rather put more into... over all reach / dig depth, and overall weight it can lift. (keeping within ability of the tractor to handle the backhoe)

the one thing most folks that have a backhoe want, ends up being a "thumb" for the backhoe. there are cheap mechanical (kinda pin on thumbs) that might be adjustable with spots were you pin, and then there are hydraulic version of thumbs that are more expensive.

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if you are not going to be using a backhoe a whole lot. renting a "mini ex" (mini excavator) and simply saving up jobs over a year or what ever. and go all weekend warrior when renting a unit. can be easier on some folks pocket books.

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if you were buying new, getting tractor + FEL (front end loader) + backhoe = more chance of possibly getting dealer to giving a larger discount over all. due to those three items tend to be high price ticket items. being that you already have tractor and purchasing as a later purchase your going to eat some expense.

if you were to be using the backhoe a lot. just buying a TLB (tractor loader backhoe) were you can physically due a 180 in the seat and operate backhoe, can be a major plus. vs getting off tractor and getting on backhoe seat.

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goal of above, is more along the lines is were do you want to eat the extra cash, vs how much you will use it? granted most folks like myself find many uses for a backhoe. besides digging / stump removal.

 

[loweryc]

I have considered that eventuality, but I 'm not sure if the $4000 can ever be recovered regardless.We have to assume the loss on the original price, but we are talking 50% of the Wallenstein price, and 25% of the John Deere, and Wallenstein do make solid equipment

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[Briana03]

Welcome to TractorByNet!

We moved your thread to the Attachments forum.

 

[loweryc]

I will install the subframe. I can see how the force transfer would damage the 3pth( working point ). But I did notice the extra pin( or thumb) as u call it on the John Deere, but I'll have to make sure the Wallenstein has it as well. It will only be occasional use,and you are right again,I know I'll find quite a few things I can do with It, and the difference in power compared to a mini ex is substantial. I think I'll have to reconsider

 

[tman1020]

I just went through a similar dilemma as you. I was trying to decide On purchasing a bobcat brand backhoe that matches my tractor or a woods brand backhoe. It was a difficult choice and found that the bobcat one was difficult to find do that they've stopped making this model eventually I did find one at a good price but it had been sitting around for a while out side. I think I could have purchased a woods for close to the same price that would have been brand-new and I think the subframe option for Woods may have been a little more to my liking. As far as resale goes I can't really see where that would make that big of a difference, because you can always market the backhoe separately if you ever choose to resell. Wallenstein will most likely have subframes available for multiple tractors where is John Deere will probably only have them available for their own. However it is nice having matching stuff. Good luck.

 

[boggen]

3pt hitch backhoe with sub frame vs mini ex.

a mini ex can do some major damage, and can get in to some very small tight areas vs a backhoe. due to cost of a mini ex vs backhoe. backhoe normally wins out. that or renting a mini ex. on other hand having a backhoe or something that you can toss onto tractor when ever within a short amount of time and use, gives you ability to use when ever and let projects drag out. (rain for example) and not being crunched for time vs renting a unit. there is to many con's vs pro's between both. you know your land and most likely uses for it (general digging / trenching / stump removal, etc...) figure out what works best for ya.

if you have not actually ran a 3pt hitch backhoe, or a mini ex before, then go out to some dealers in your area and see if you can take some test drives on different machinery, it is about the only way you will get first hand experience of this vs that. many dealerships have some sort of "test pile" or test area to try stuff out.

 

[loweryc]

Thanks for the advice. I have ran mini's before,and backhoes, but not tractor loader backhoes. I hope I'm not too disappointed in the performance, but I do realize the performance will not be the same.